Write While True is a writing podcast for programmers. Each episode is a writing exercise or prompt. Sit down at a keyboard and cue us up. When the show is over, it’s time to write.
Lou: That actually transitions me to a question I have, which is what are the kinds of things that you’ve gotten out of it? In the past on this podcast, I’ve talked about there have been so many opportunities, customers, job opportunities, like things like that, that I’ve gotten out of it.
Glenn: Oh, Oh, 100%. I used to joke that I think my blog maybe has less than a hundred subscribers, but one of them was one of the VPs at my company. So how many subscribers is that worth to have their attention to spread ideas?
Brian: We’re all three in that boat. I think of having not a massive audience, but having written stuff that helped us meet new people that we still talk to having written stuff that helped us find paying gigs and yeah, you’re right.
We talk to Glenn Stovall about his Substack and upcoming book about product thinking for engineers, called Own the Outcome.
Glenn’s site: State Transition (https://www.statetransition.co)
Mentioned in the Podcast
The Design of Everyday Things [Amazon Affiliate] (https://link.amazon/B04OANpPu) by Donald Norman
Christopher Alexander [ (https://link.amazon/B04OANpPu)Amazon Affiliate] (https://link.amazon/B04OANpPu)
Sometimes the reason you can’t find people you resonate with is because you misread the ones you meet (https://www.henrikkarlsson.xyz/p/friends-missed) by Henrik Carlson
Venkatesh Rao (https://contraptions.venkateshrao.com) on Substack
How to Write Funny [ (https://link.amazon/B0aXx0Bf6)Amazon Affiliate (https://link.amazon/B04OANpPu)] by Scott Dickers
Transcript (https://loufranco.com/write-while-true-podcast/write-while-true-episode-58-transcript)
11 May 2026
57. Writing Tools for Publishing
Brian: And today, once again, we’re talking about tools, but this time focus on tools for publishing and collaboration in writing, which is all a bit more complicated than what text editor do you use?
So, to start at the simpler end of the spectrum, though, there’s blogging and then there’s publishing things like books and pamphlets and whatnot. So let’s talk first about blogging tools, publishing to the internet.
Write While True Episode 56: Writing Tools for Drafting (https://loufranco.com/blog/write-while-true-episode-56-writing-tools-for-drafting)
Transcript (https://loufranco.com/write-while-true-podcast/write-while-true-episode-57-transcript)
3 May 2026
56. Writing Tools for Drafting
Brian: I’m Brian Hall. And today, I can’t wait, we’re talking about writing tools, talking about your writing stack.
And we’ll actually spread this out over two episodes.
Today we’re talking about the idea phase, outlining, collecting notes, and drafting. So just the writing part. We’ll save publishing, editing, collaboration tools for a future episode.
Write While True Episode 2: Small Bits of Writing (https://loufranco.com/blog/write-while-true-episode-2-small-bits-of-writing)
How to Take Smart Notes [amazon affiliate link] (https://amzn.to/3rG0TPP)
Obsidian (https://obsidian.md)
Roam Research (https://roamresearch.com)
Notion (https://www.notion.com)
Scrivener (https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview)
Transcript (https://loufranco.com/write-while-true-podcast/write-while-true-episode-56-transcript)
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100
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Quality
41
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
27
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